I think you got the meaning of the comic and didn’t miss any jokes. It seems there is also an audience draw going on there. The audience is expected to believe that this is an authentic Christmas-loving family, who shares in all of the classic traditions of the holiday. We are then supposed to be surprised at the hollow, metallic, fake looking trees that they need wirecutters instead of a saw for.

#3 Kit, I’m with #2 Brian: “We wish you a Merry Christmas” is a secular Christmas song. Other than the mention of Christmas, and the oblique reference to “good tidings” in some versions, there’s certainly nothing religious or spiritual about the lyrics.

I think the joke (such as it is) is the idea of artificial trees being sold at an outdoor lot, arrayed as though it were an actual Christmas tree farm, where purchasers have to chop down their selections. (Apologies if my comment belatedly shows up three times — I keep getting an error message.)

I think the joke is the juxtaposition between the traditional Christmas carols and buying an artificial tree. That juxtaposition is highlighted by the final panel where there is a sign that says the sign “Hack saws, wire cutters here”

PLEASE NOTE: The following comment is meant *entirely in jest* and is not intended to be taken at all seriously or personally: Would “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” count as sacred? The lyrics contain the word “Christmas” more than once, even if it’s not in the title. (Sorry, I’m in a bit of a silly mood this morning. Must be the coffee kicking in.)

And with all the explanations above, I still don’t “get” this strip. Or maybe I do, and it’s just not funny. . . .

At the risk of stating the obvious, telling someone to enjoy the holiday celebrating the birth of the son of God is not 100% secular. It certainly has non-religious components and it may be a largely secular holiday for some of you—which I understand, since I’m not Christian, and celebrate Christmas. But I certainly know Christians for whom it’s an important religious holiday, and Jews for whom it’s a holiday that it’s important that they not celebrate, since it’s the holiday of a different religion. Claiming that it’s a 100% secular holiday is like claiming that the Fourth of July is a general holiday for freedom, regardless of which country to live in (maybe some people make this argument to; if so, I don’t want to know about it).

What I find most bizarre and maddening about the manufactured outrage over the so-called “War on Christmas” is that I hear two complaints: (1) “They” keep trying to take the Christ out of Christmas and (2) Christmas is a holiday for everyone regardless of their faith. I mean, either argument on it’s own is insane but hearing them used side-by-side makes my head explode.

When I wish someone a “merry Christmas” I’m not assuming they are Christian, nor am I forcing Christian ideals upon them. I am wishing them good times during this part of the season and I often find that people of every culture return the greeting. Then again, I usually abstain from saying it, partially to avoid all of the controversy. I’ve been wished a happy Hanukkah before and I returned it in the same way, even though I’m not at all Jewish. (I do have Jewish cousins, but that’s beside the point.) If someone wished me a happy Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Life Day, etc., I would return it kindly because I want people to be happy regardless of what they believe. This is just me, however, and might be because I don’t go crazy over minute details regarding religion or … well, anything, really.

It reminds me of someone yelling at me for saying “Bless you” after he sneezed. I replied, “That’s the thing about blessings; you don’t have to accept them.” Speechless, the guy walked away.

The thing that often gets lost in all of this is that we all have the power to choose what we take offense to. If we all simply choose to turn the sensitivity meter just a tad to the left (especially those that go to 11), we’d all be just a bit happier.

I’m not Christian, but it is now December 25th and so I’ll happily wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

bat L and Robverb, I think it’s great that the two of you are so easy-going and difficult to offend. But I’m a little puzzled who your remarks are addressed to, since I don’t see anyone in this thread who takes offense to being told “Merry Christmas.” Nor do any of my non-Christmas-practicing friends react with anger when told “Merry Christmas,” nor have I seen commentators or interviewees on the news telling me that I shouldn’t wish people “Merry Christmas.” I’m familiar with a great number of people, many of them with control of major media programs, who take offense at hearing “Happy Holidays,” or it being called the “holiday season,” but that doesn’t seem to be what you’re talking about. So who are these “Merry Christmas”-hating fiends that you’re addressing your comments to?